Police meet hundreds of students during ‘Tips n’ Treats’

February 21, 2011Whether at the East Campus Marketplace, the Blue Devil Bistro on Central Campus or inside the Bryan Center, members of the Duke University Police Department were out and about last week to talk safety with students.

As part of the department’s second “Tips n’ Treats” series Feb. 15 to 17, officers greeted about 550 students and distributed the same number of wallet-sized emergency contact cards, dozens of highlighters and even more cookies provided by Duke Dining Services. It was all a part of the police department’s ongoing campaign to informally meet with students to discuss safety on and around campus. The first “Tips n’ Treats” tour took place in October.

“It’s a good idea for police to talk in person with students because they’ll get extra thoughts and input for what they do,” said Glenn Palmer, a first-year student, who stopped to meet officers outside the University Store in the Bryan Center. “We talked about protecting laptops and locking my door. It’s nice to see officers out and talking with students.”

David Williams, crime prevention manager, said most students he spoke with didn’t have serious concerns about safety. He said the most common questions he got involved lighting on and off campus. To those queries, he suggests students try to stay in well-lit areas and travel in groups at night.

Crime prevention officer Eric Hester talked with students about protecting property. Hester encouraged students to not leave property unattended because thefts in study spaces like the libraries tend to increase in the spring semester. To better protect property, Hester encouraged students to get laptops, iPads, iPods and other devices engraved for no charge at the Duke Police offices at 502 Oregon St.